Andrzej Karweta was born in Jeleń village (part of
Jaworzno since 1977). In 1977 he started studies at the
Polish Naval Academy in
Gdynia and graduated in 1982, with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (
podporucznik marynarki). In following years he attended further studies, including Defence Politics at the Polish
National Defence University in Warsaw (2006) and studies at
Royal College of Defence Studies in London. He started service in the 13th Minesweeper Division in
Hel in 1982. In 1986 he took his first command, of ORP
Czapla (
Projekt 206F class minesweeper), in 1989 of another minesweeper ORP
Mewa and a group of minesweepers. In 1992-1996 he was chief of staff and second in command of the 13th Minesweeper Division, later he became its commander. During
BALTOPS 2000 maneuvers he commanded an international anti-mine warfare group. In 2002 he became deputy commander of the Underwater Warfare Division in
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT), and was a Polish representative in SACLANT headquarters. In 2005 he returned to Poland and served as the second in command of the 8th Coast Defence Flotilla in
Świnoujście. On 3 May 2007 he was promoted to rear admiral and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia. On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to
commodore (
NATO code OF-6) and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia. On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to
rear admiral (
NATO code OF-7) and appointed the Polish Navy's commander-in-chief. He was listed on the flight manifest of the
Tupolev Tu-154 of the
36th Special Aviation Regiment carrying the
President of Poland Lech Kaczyński which crashed near
Smolensk-North airport near
Smolensk,
Russia, on 10 April 2010, killing all aboard. ==Honours and awards==